Authorities investigating the stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho students as they slept in a house near campus are asking for patience after a week passed with no arrests and residents of the small college town of Moscow remain on edge and concerned about their safety, the Associated Press reports. Authorities said they have no suspect or weapon in the Nov. 13 killings that shook the town of 25,000 residents in the Idaho Panhandle. Students and residents have expressed concern about a lack of details from police, who initially said there was no danger to the public but a few days later acknowledged they couldn’t say there was no threat. “We know that people want answers — we want answers, too,” Idaho State Police Col. Kedrick Wills said. “Please be patient as we work through this investigation. We owe this to these young kids. To these young adults. We owe it to them. And we’re absolutely dedicated to make sure that that happens.”
Moscow Police Chief James Fry said authorities have received nearly 650 tips and conducted 90 interviews. Police have also requested businesses and residences in parts of the city to share with them footage recorded between 3 and 6 a.m. on the day of the killings. “It’s a complex and terrible crime,” Fry said, “and it will take some time to resolve.” University President Scott Green said instructors have been told to prepare for a possible hybrid teaching system that includes in-person and remote learning for students not comfortable returning to the campus after the fall recess, which ends after this week. All four victims were members of fraternities and sororities: seniors Madison Mogen, 21, of Coeur d’Alene, Id. and Kaylee Goncalves, 21, of Rathdrum, Id.; junior Xana Kernodle, 20, of Post Falls, Id.; and freshman Ethan Chapin, 20, of Mount Vernon, Wa, The women were roommates, and Chapin was dating Kernodle. Authorities said they were each stabbed multiple times, and that some had defensive wounds.